Sales data processing apparatus and computer-readable storage medium

ABSTRACT

A sales data processing apparatus which registers and processes sales data on a transaction-by-transaction basis. The apparatus includes: an imaging module that images a customer who is waiting for registration; a manipulation determination module that determines whether or not a prescribed one of a series of manipulations for registration of sales data of one transaction was performed; and a generation module that generates customer identification image data based on an image taken by the imaging module if the manipulation determination module determines that the prescribed manipulation was performed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present disclosure relates to the subject matters contained inJapanese Patent Application No. 2011-134721 filed on Jun. 17, 2011,which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

One or more examples of the present invention relate to a sales dataprocessing apparatus and a computer-readable storage medium forregistering and processing sales data on a transaction-by-transactionbasis.

BACKGROUND

In general, in stores, sales data that have been registered andprocessed by sales data processing apparatus such as electronic cashregisters (ECRs) or point of sale (POS) terminals are analyzed andattributes (shopping frequencies, repeat rates, genders, age groups,etc.) of customers (purchasers) are also analyzed. For example, shoppingfrequencies, repeat rates, genders, age groups, etc. of customers areanalyzed by identifying the customers (member IDs) and recordingshopping history data on the basis of card data that are read from theirmember's cards that were issued in advance. However, this customeranalysis method using member's cards may have problems that the issuanceof member's cards requires time, labor, and cost, it may becomenecessary to increase the membership joining ratio, and non-membercustomers are not involved in a customer analysis.

A technique for addressing the above is known in which a camera forimaging the face of each customer is provided, a customer is identifiedby extracting features of his or her face from an image taken by thecamera and comparing them with the contents (face feature point data) ofa customer database, and customer data (name, address, telephone number,etc.) that is correlated with the identified customer is read from thecustomer database (refer to JP-A-2001-325433).

However, the technique of JP-A-2001-325433 still has a problem that evenif the face of a customer is shot with the camera, proper features ofthe face need not always be extracted from a face image taken at a highprobability, that is, the reliability of face recognition is notsufficiently high.

SUMMARY

An object of the embodiments is to make it possible to generate imagedata for customer identification with proper timing and to identify acustomer at a high probability on the basis of a customer image obtainedby imaging the customer.

According to one aspect of the embodiments, there is provided a salesdata processing apparatus which registers and processes sales data on atransaction-by-transaction basis. The apparatus includes: an imagingmodule configured to image a customer who is waiting for registration; amanipulation determination module configured to determine whether or nota prescribed one of a series of manipulations for registration of salesdata of one transaction was performed; and a generation moduleconfigured to generate customer identification image data based on animage taken by the imaging module if the manipulation determinationmodule determines that the prescribed manipulation was performed.

According to another aspect of the embodiments, there is provided acomputer-readable storage medium that stores a program for causing acomputer to execute procedures including: registering and processingsales data on a transaction-by-transaction basis; determining whether ornot a prescribed one of a series of manipulations for registration ofsales data of one transaction was performed; and generating customeridentification image data based on an image taken by an imaging moduleconfigured to image a customer who is waiting for registration if it isdetermined that the prescribed manipulation was performed.

The embodiments make it possible to generate image data for customeridentification with proper timing and to identify a customer at a highprobability based on a customer image obtained by imaging the customer,and thereby provides a sales data processing apparatus which is highlyreliable and practical.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A general configuration that implements the various features of theinvention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawingsand the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodimentsof the invention and should not limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing basic constituent blocks of an ECR asan example sales data processing apparatus according to a firstembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the ECR as viewedobliquely from the front side (from the customer side).

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a side appearance of the ECR.

FIG. 4A shows an example image taken by a customer camera 25 and FIG. 4Bshows an example image taken by an operator camera 26.

FIG. 5 shows various files that are stored in and managed by an ECR mainbody unit 1 and various files and a database that are stored in andmanaged by a camera unit 2.

FIG. 6 illustrates a customer database Y4.

FIG. 7 illustrates an electronic journal file Y6.

FIG. 8 is a main flowchart for description of a process characteristicof the first embodiment in the process of the entire ECR which isstarted upon power-on.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for detailed description of a registration process(step A2 shown in FIG. 8).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for detailed description of a customeridentification and registration process (step A6 shown in FIG. 8).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for detailed description of a registrationprocess (which corresponds to step A2 shown in FIG. 8) of a secondembodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for detailed description of a customeridentification and registration process (step A31 shown in FIG. 11) ofthe second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described indetail with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

First, a first embodiment of the invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 10.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing basic constituent blocks of anelectronic cash register (ECR) as an example sales data processingapparatus.

This ECR is separated into an ECR main body unit 1 and a camera unit 2.The camera unit 2 is attached to the ECR main body unit 1 detachably andconnected to the latter by a cable 3. The ECR main body unit 1 isprovided with basic (standard) ECR functions, an example of which is asales data registration function of registration-processing input saledata of one transaction and performing accounting processing accordingto bills and coins that are handed over from a customer after theregistration processing of the one transaction. In the embodiment, theECR main body unit 1 is also provided with a function of generatingevent codes corresponding to various key manipulations, drawer openingand closure, etc. and transferring the generated event codes to thecamera unit 2 as journal data.

The camera unit 2 is provided with not only a camera function of imaginga customer who is waiting for registration (checkout) and an operatorand his or her manipulation situations but also a customer identifyingfunction of identifying a customer on the basis of a customer imagetaken by the camera function and a customer analyzing function ofperforming a customer (purchaser) analysis on the basis of a customeridentification result produced by the customer identifying function.These functions are implemented as modules. Attached to the ECR mainbody unit 1 detachably and connected to the latter by the cable 3, thecamera unit 2 can be replaced by a new one anytime freely when, forexample, it has failed. When necessary, the ECR main body unit 1 and thecamera unit 2 cooperate to perform any of various kinds of processing.

The ECR main body unit 1 is centered by a CPU (central processing unit)11 which controls the entire operation of the ECR main body unit 1according to various programs. A storage unit 12 is equipped withstorage media such as a ROM, a RAM, and a flash memory and drive systemstherefor, and stores programs for causing the ECR to operate accordingto processes to be described later with reference to FIGS. 8-10, variousapplications, etc. and also stores a database, character font data, etc.The above-mentioned storage media are not limited to fixed, built-instorage media and may be detachable and portable external storage media.And the above-mentioned programs and data may be installed in thestorage media from another apparatus via a wired or wirelesstransmission line or used by accessing a server which stores and managesthe programs and data. A memory 13 is a work area for temporarilystoring various data such as time data and flags that are necessary foroperation of the ECR main body unit 1.

Input/output peripheral devices of the CPU 11 which are a manipulationunit 14, a scanner 15, an operator display unit 16, a printing unit 17,a drawer drive unit 18, and a COM port 19 are connected to the CPU 11 bya bus line. The CPU 11 controls their operations according toinput/output programs. The manipulation unit 14 has a mode switch MS anda keyboard on which various push-button keys are arranged. In additionto a ten-key unit (not shown) etc., registration keys K1, a subtotal keyK2, accounting keys K3 such as a cash/deposit key, and other keys arearranged on the keyboard.

The mode switch MS is a rotary switch for switching between variousoperation modes (program kinds) such as a registration (REG) mode, areturn (RF) mode, and a final accounting (Z) mode according to itsswitching position. The registration keys K1 are an item key forcommanding item-by-item registration such as a FLU (price look up) key,a category key, etc. The subtotal key K2 is a key for displaying, as asubtotal amount, the sum of values of sales data registered so far inone transaction. The accounting keys K3 which serve to finishregistration of one transaction are a cash/deposit key and a credit key.In the registration (REG) mode, the CPU 11 generates an event codeaccording to each of various kinds of key manipulations and performsregistration processing of displaying input sales data and updating thesum of sales values. When one of the accounting keys K3 is pushed aftercompletion of registration of one transaction, the CPU 11 causes openingof a drawer 18A and issuance of a receipt.

The image scanner 15 has an image sensor such as a CCD or a CMOS sensorand serves to read a bar code or a two-dimensional code attached to anitem by imaging it when the item is scanned at the time of registration.The CPU 11 decodes a bar code or the like by analyzing image dataobtained by the image scanner 15 and thereby identifies the item. Theoperator display unit 16 displays a price of an item, data or a messagerelating to the item, etc. to an operator, and is a liquid crystaldisplay, an organic EL (electroluminescence) display, or the like. Theprinting unit 17, which is a non-impact printer of thermal transfer, inkjet, or a like type or a dot impact printer, performs receipt printing.The drawer drive unit 18 controls the opening/closure of the drawer 18Ain response to a key manipulation. When the drawer 18A is opened orclosed, the CPU 11 generates a drawer opening/closure event. The COMport 19 is a serial port for connection to the camera unit 2.

The camera unit 2 is centered by a CPU (central processing unit) 21which controls the entire operation of the camera unit 2 according tovarious programs. A storage unit 22 is equipped with storage media suchas a ROM, a RAM, and a flash memory and drive systems therefor, andstores programs for causing the ECR to operate according to a process tobe described later with reference to FIG. 10, various applications, etc.A memory 23 is a work area for temporarily storing various data that arenecessary for operation of the camera unit 2.

Input/output peripheral devices of the CPU 21 which are a customerdisplay unit 24, a customer camera 25, an operator camera 26, a cardinterface unit 27, and a COM port 29 are connected to the CPU 21 by abus line. The CPU 21 controls their operations according to input/outputprograms. The customer display unit 24 is provided for a customer who iswaiting for registration (checkout) and its screen faces the customer.Being a 7-segment light-emitting diode (LED) display, for example, thecustomer display unit 24 displays numerical values representing a unitprice of an item, a number, a subtotal amount, a deposit amount, etc.

The customer camera 25 is disposed close to the customer display unit 24and images mainly the face of a customer who is waiting forregistration. The operator camera 26 is a monitoring camera for imagingan operator and his or her manipulation situations. Although neither ofthe customer camera 25 nor the operator camera 26 is illustrated indetail, each of them has a lens unit, an imaging device, an A/D(analog-to-digital) conversion section, etc. and can take a movingimage. Each of the customer camera 25 and the operator camera 26 cantake a high-resolution image of a subject by forming a subject image onthe imaging device such as a CCD or a CMOS sensor by the lens unit.

An SD card 28 as a recording medium is inserted into the card interfaceunit 27. The SD card 28 is stored with various files (described later).The camera unit 2 is provided with a lock (not shown) for preventingtheft or the like of the SD card 28 inserted in the card interface unit27. To take out the SD card 28, it is necessary for a person in chargeto open the lock using a dedicated key he or she keeps. The externalstorage medium is not limited to the SD card and may be of another type.The COM port 29 is a serial port for connection to the ECR main bodyunit 1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of theabove-configured ECR as viewed obliquely from the front side (from thecustomer side). FIG. 3 is a side view showing a side appearance of theECR.

The top surface of the ECR main body unit 1 is provided with theoperator display unit 16 as well as the keyboard and the mode switch MSwhich constitute the manipulation unit 14. The top surface of the ECRmain body unit 1 is also provided with a receipt issuance opening (notshown) through which to take out a receipt that is sent out from theprinting unit 17.

The camera unit 2 has a cabinet 2A of the customer display unit 24 and apole-shaped support member (support pole) 2B which supports the cabinet2A. A bottom portion of the support pole 2B is fixed to the backside ofthe ECR main body unit 1 so that the support pole 2B is erectedvertically. The cabinet 2A of the customer display unit 24 is attachedto a top portion of the support pole 2B. The support pole 2B isconfigured so that its length is adjustable, and the cabinet 2A of thecustomer display unit 24 is rotatable with respect to the support pole2B. That is, the height and the direction of the cabinet 2A areadjustable and the height and the direction of the customer display unit24 and the customer camera 25 are adjustable accordingly.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the customer camera 25 is disposed on thefront surface of the cabinet 2A close to one end (in FIGS. 2 and 3, theleft end) of the customer display unit 24. The imaging direction of thecustomer camera 25 is toward a customer who is waiting for registration,and its angle of view is set in such a range that the customer camera 25can image a customer who is waiting for registration. FIG. 4A shows anexample image taken by the customer camera 25 which includes a headcustomer and a second customer who stands behind the head customer.

The operator camera 26 is disposed close to the top of the support pole2B. The imaging direction of the operator camera 26 is toward anoperator, and its angle of view is set in such a range that the operatorcamera 26 can image the entire manipulation unit 14 and the face of anoperator who is manipulating the ECR. FIG. 4B shows an examplemonitoring image taken by the operator camera 26 which includes anoperator and an operation situation that the operator is putting ortaking coins into or out of the drawer 18A which is opened.

FIG. 5 shows various files that are stored in and managed by the ECRmain body unit 1 and various files and a database that are stored in andmanaged by the camera unit 2.

An item-by-item sum file X1, a category-by-category sum file X2, atransaction-type-by-transaction-type sum file X3, etc. are stored in andmanaged by the ECR main body unit 1. The item-by-item sum file X1, thecategory-by-category sum file X2, and thetransaction-type-by-transaction-type sum file X3 are files for storingand managing sum values etc. of sales data (numbers and sales values)for each item, each category (packed lunches, breads, or the like), andeach transaction type (cash sale, credit sale, or the like),respectively.

A customer moving image file Y1, customer identification image data Y2,a face recognition data file Y3, a customer database Y4, an operatormoving image file Y5, an electronic journal file Y6, etc. are stored inand managed by the camera unit 2. The customer moving image file Y1contains files of moving images taken by the customer camera 25.Recording dates and times (time stamps) are stored successively togetherwith file names or the like of moving image files so as to be correlatedwith the respective moving image files. The customer identificationimage data Y2 is face feature point data obtained by analyzing acustomer face in an image (still image) that is extracted for customeridentification for each transaction from a moving image in the customermoving image file Y1. After the end of registration work of each day,the CPU 21 generates customer identification image data Y2 (face featurepoint data) Y2 for each transaction from a moving image in the customermoving image file Y1.

More specifically, after the end of registration work (at the time offinal accounting) of each day, the CPU 21 generates customeridentification image data Y2 by extracting, from a moving image in thecustomer moving image file Y1, images (still images) recorded atpositions corresponding to event times (described later) which are timesof prescribed ones of a series of manipulations performed untilregistration of sales data of each transaction, that is, manipulationsof the subtotal key K2 for displaying price data on the customer displayunit 24 and the accounting keys K3 and then analyzing the extractedimages. Although in the embodiment face feature point data is generatedas customer identification image data Y2 by analyzing an extracted image(still image), the invention is not limited to such a case; an extractedimage (still image) itself may be employed as customer identificationimage data Y2.

The face recognition data file Y3 contains face recognition image fileswhich are compared with customer identification image data Y2 inidentifying the customer on the basis of the customer identificationimage data Y2. The face recognition data file Y3 is used for storing andmanaging face recognition data (face feature point data) and a customerrecognition output ID for each customer. The customer recognition outputID is identification data for identification of a customer who has beenrecognized by performing processing of recognizing his or her face onthe basis of an image taken by the customer camera 25.

The customer database Y4 is a file for storing and managing datarelating to each customer. The operator moving image file Y5 containsfiles of moving images taken by the operator camera 26. Recording datesand times (time stamps) are stored successively together with file namesof moving image files so as to be correlated with the respective movingimage files. The electronic journal file Y6 is a file for storing andmanaging sales data and manipulation situations for each transaction assales record data (journal data).

FIG. 6 illustrates the customer database Y4.

The customer database Y4 has such items as a customer recognition outputID, a gender, an age group, a detection score, and a registration date.The customer recognition output ID is customer identification data forlinkage with the face recognition data file Y3. The gender and the agegroup are data that are input on the store side by estimating a genderand an age group on the basis of a customer image. The detection scoreis data which is one of numerical values “1” to “10” and represents howclose to a completely frontal face (value “10”) a face detected from ashot image is.

FIG. 7 illustrates the electronic journal file Y6.

The electronic journal file Y6 has such items as a moving image filename, an event kind, an event year/month/day, an event time, an itemcode, a price, and a customer recognition output ID. The moving imagefile name is data for linkage with the operator moving image file Y5 andis a year/month/day number followed by a serial number. The event kindindicates a manipulation kind and is an event code indicating amanipulation of one of the registration keys K1, a manipulation of thesubtotal key K2, a manipulation of one of the accounting keys K3, draweropening/closure, or the like. The event year/month/day is ayear/month/day when the manipulation was performed, and the event timeis a time (hours, minutes, seconds, and 1/100 seconds) when themanipulation was performed. The customer recognition output ID iscustomer identification data for linkage with the face recognition datafile Y3 and is a serial number or the like.

Next, an operation concept of the ECR according to the first embodimentwill be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS. 8-10. Each stepof each flowchart is stored in the form of readable program code andthese steps are executed successively according to the program code.Alternatively, these steps may be executed successively according to theprogram code that is transmitted over a transmission medium such as anetwork. This also applies to a second embodiment which will bedescribed later. Steps unique to each embodiment may be performed usingprograms and data that are supplied externally via a transmission mediuminstead of being stored in a recording medium.

FIG. 8 is a main flowchart for description of a process characteristicof the first embodiment in the process of the entire ECR which isstarted upon power-on.

The CPU 11 of the ECR main body unit 1 determines whether the modeswitch MS is at the position of the registration (REG) mode (step A1shown in FIG. 8), the final accounting (Z) mode (step A3), or one of theother modes (step A7), and whether or not a power-off manipulation hasbeen made (step A9). If the mode switch MS is at the position of theregistration mode (A1: yes), in response to a registration manipulationthe process moves to a registration process (step A2) where sales dataare registered.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for detailed description of the registrationprocess (step A2 shown in FIG. 8). The ECR main body unit 1 performsvarious kinds of processing by cooperating with the camera unit 2, whennecessary.

The CPU 11 of the ECR main body unit 1 determines whether a registrationmanipulation has been performed, that is, scanning has been performedwith the scanner 15 to read a bar code or the like from an item or oneof the registration keys K1 (e.g., item key) has been manipulated afterinput of a price (step B1 shown in FIG. 9), whether or not the subtotalkey K2 has been manipulated (step B9), whether or not one of theaccounting keys K3 (e.g., cash/deposit key) has been manipulated afterregistration of one transaction (step B11), and whether or not one ofthe other keys has been manipulated (step B16).

If a registration manipulation has been performed (B1: yes), the processmoves to step B2, where the CPU 11 of the ECR main body unit 1determines whether the customer camera 25 is not performing a imagingoperation by accessing the camera unit 2. If the customer camera 25 isnot performing a imaging operation (B2: no), at step B3 the CPU 11determines whether or not a first manipulation of one transaction hasbeen performed, that is, scanning has been performed with the scanner 15to read a bar code or the like from an item or one of the registrationkeys K1 (e.g., item key) has been manipulated after input of a price. Ifa first manipulation of one transaction has been performed (B3: yes), atstep 34 the CPU 11 generates a moving image file name and transfers itto the camera unit 2 and thereby causes the camera unit 2 to set thegenerated moving image file name in the electronic journal file Y6. Atstep B5, the CPU 11 causes the camera unit 2 to activate the customercamera 25 and start a recording operation of successively recordingimages taken by the customer camera 25. Then, the process moves to anitem registration process (step B6).

On the other hand, if the customer camera 25 is in operation (B2: yes)or the detected manipulation is not a first one (B3: no) even if thecustomer camera 25 is not in operation, the process moves to the itemregistration process (step B6) skipping the above-described steps B4 andB5. In the item registration process (step B6), the CPU 11 displays aninput item name and unit price on the operator display unit 16 and thecustomer display unit 24 and performs processing of updating thecontents (sales data) of the item-by-item sum file X1 and thecategory-by-category sum file X2. The CPU 11 displays an item name and aunit price on the customer display unit 24 by transferring display datafrom the ECR main body unit 1 to the camera unit 2.

Then, at step B7, the CPU 11 updates the subtotal of the one transactionconcerned. At step B8, the CPU 11 stores the sales data registered thistime and associated manipulation data (event data) in the work area asjournal data (temporary storage). Then, the process returns to step B1.The above steps are executed again every time a registrationmanipulation is made.

If the subtotal key K2 is manipulated (B9: yes), at step B10 the CPU 11displays a subtotal amount on the operator display unit 16 and thecustomer display unit 24. Then, the process moves to the above-describedstep B8, where the CPU 11 stores the subtotal amount and associatedmanipulation data (event data) as journal data (temporary storage).

If one of the other keys (e.g., correction key) is manipulated (B16:yes), at step B17 the CPU 11 performs processing corresponding to themanipulation (e.g., correction processing). Then, the process moves tothe above-described step B8, where the CPU 11 stores a processing resultand associated manipulation data (event data) as journal data (temporarystorage).

If one of the accounting keys K3 (e.g., cash/deposit key) is manipulatedafter the end of registration of the one transaction concerned (B11:yes), the CPU 11 performs an accounting process (update oftransaction-type-by-transaction-type sums; step B12) according to billsand coins that have been handed over from the customer, performs receiptprinting and issuance of a receipt, and opens the drawer 18A. At stepB13, the CPU 11 stores associated accounting manipulation data (eventdata) as journal data (temporary storage). At step B14, the CPU 11transfers the event data of the one transaction concerned that have beenstored temporarily in the above-described manners to the camera unit 2as journal data. The camera unit 2 performs processing of additionallyregistering the event data of the one transaction concerned in theelectronic journal file Y6. At step B15, the operation of the customercamera 25 is stopped. Then, the process of FIG. 9 is finished and anexit is made from it.

Upon the completion of the registration process (step A2 shown in FIG.8), the process returns to step A1 shown in FIG. 8. If the registrationmode is effective (A1: yes), the above-described registration process(step S2) is executed again according to manipulations. When the wholeday business has finished and the mode switch MS is switched to thefinal accounting (Z) mode (A3: yes), at step A4 the CPU 11 determineswhether or not a manipulation that commands identification andregistration of the customers has been made. If no such manipulation hasbeen made (A4: no), the CPU 11 executes a final accounting process (stepA5) of updating the contents of the transaction-type-by-transaction-typesum file X3 etc. Then, the process returns to step A1.

If a manipulation that commands identification and registration of thecustomers has been made (A4: yes), the CPU 11 of the ECR main body unit1 causes the camera unit 2 to execute a customer identification andregistration process (step A6; described later) by giving the cameraunit 2 an instruction that corresponds to the received manipulation.Then, the process moves to the above-described final accounting process(step A5). If the mode switch MS is at the position of one of the othermodes (e.g., setting mode; A7: yes), at step A8 the CPU 11 performsprocessing corresponding to the other mode (e.g., processing of settingvarious data). Then, the process returns to step A1. If a power-offmanipulation is performed (A9: yes), the CPU 11 executes a prescribedpower-off process (step A10). Then, the process of FIG. 8 is finished.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for detailed description of the customeridentification and registration process (step A6 shown in FIG. 8).

First, at step C1, the CPU 21 of the camera unit 2 designates one recordof the electronic journal file Y6 and acquires the specified record. Atstep C2, the CPU 21 determines whether the event kind of the acquiredrecord indicates a manipulation of the subtotal key K2 or one of theaccounting keys K3 (e.g., subtotal key or cash/deposit key). If theevent kind does not indicate a manipulation of the subtotal key K2 orone of the accounting keys K3 (C2: no), the process returns to step C1to exclude this record from the subjects of this process. Theabove-described step C1 is executed repeatedly until an event kindindicating a manipulation of the subtotal key K2 or one of theaccounting keys K3 is found.

If a record whose event kind indicates a manipulation of the subtotalkey K2 or one of the accounting keys K3 is acquired (C2: yes), at stepC3 the CPU 21 acquires the moving image file name and the event timefrom the record. At step C4, the CPU 21 extracts a corresponding movingimage file by searching the customer moving image file Y1 using themoving image file name as a key and extracts a one-frame still imagethat is located at a position corresponding to the event time from theextracted moving image file. At step C5, the CPU 21 generates customeridentification image data Y2 by enlarging the extracted image to aprescribed size by digital zooming, extracting a face portion, andperforming face detection processing of extracting face feature pointdata by analyzing the face image.

In the camera unit 2, feature points of the face of a customer areextracted through a comprehensive analysis of an extracted image, thatis, a face outline, shapes of face parts (eyes, mouth, nose, forehead,etc.), relationships between them, etc. Where the extracted imagecontains plural subjects (customer faces), a largest face is selectedfrom those faces and feature points are extracted from the selectedface. Since the embodiment employs the technique of extracting facefeature points that is commonly used in cameras, it is not be describedin detail here.

At step C6, the CPU 21 of the camera unit 2 generates, as a result ofthe face detection processing, a detection score which is a numericalvalue indicating how close to a completely frontal face the face imageis. At step C7, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the detection scoreis larger than or equal to a reference value (e.g., 7). If the detectionscore is larger than or equal to the reference value (C7: yes), the CPU21 determines that the face has been recognized correctly and theprocess moves to step C9. On the other hand, if the detection score issmaller than the reference value (C7: no), the CPU 21 determines thatthe face has not been recognized correctly because, for example, theface image is a profile. And the process moves to step C8, where theevent time is shifted by a prescribed time.

The CPU 21 calculates a shifted event time that succeeds or precedes thecurrent event time by, for example, adding or subtracting 0.5 second toor from the current event time. Then, the process returns to step C4. Aone-frame still image located at a position corresponding to the newlycalculated event time is extracted at step C5 and the above-describedsteps C6 and C7 are executed for the new event time. Alternatively, bothshifted event times that succeed and precede the current event time,respectively, may be calculated. As a further alternative, shifted eventtimes whose shifts from the current event time increase stepwise with astep of a prescribed time (e.g., 0.5 second) may be calculated; that is,shifted event times may succeed or precede the current event time by 0.5second, 1 second, 1.5 seconds, and 2 seconds, respectively.

If the detection score is larger than or equal to the reference value(C7: yes), at step C9 the CPU 21 searches the face recognition data fileY3 using the extracted face feature point data (customer identificationimage data Y2). At step C10, the CPU 21 determines whether or not thereexists registered face feature point data that corresponds to, that is,coincides in features with, the extracted face feature point data. Ifthere exists registered face feature point data that coincides infeatures with the extracted face feature point data (i.e., a match isfound with a registered person; C10: yes), at step C11 the CPU 21determines that the customer has been identified and acquires thecorresponding face recognition output ID from the face recognition datafile Y3. At step C16, the CPU 21 performs processing of recording theacquired face recognition output ID in the electronic journal file Y6.At step C17, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the last record of theelectronic journal file Y6 has been designated. If the last record ofthe electronic journal file Y6 has not been designated yet (C17: no),the process returns to step C1, where the next record is read out andacquired from the electronic journal file Y6.

On the other hand, if a match is not found with any registered person(C10: no), at step C12 the CPU 21 newly generates a face recognitionoutput ID and a registration date. At step C13, the CPU 21 generates anew record which contains a detection score in addition to the facerecognition output ID and the registration date. At step C14, the CPU 21newly (additionally) registers the generated record in the customerdatabase Y4. At step C15, the CPU 21 additionally registers the customeridentification image data Y2 in the face recognition data file Y3together with the face recognition output ID. At step C16, the CPU 21records the face recognition output ID in the electronic journal fileY6. Until it is determined at step C17 that the last record of theelectronic journal file Y6 has been designated, the process returns tostep C1 and the next record is read out and acquired there to executethe above steps repeatedly.

As described above, in the first embodiment, if a prescribed one of aseries of manipulations to be performed until registration of sales dataof each transaction was performed, customer identification image data Y2is generated on the basis of an image taken by the customer camera 25.Therefore, an image for customer identification can be generated withproper timing and a customer can be identified at a high probability onthe basis of a customer image obtained by imaging the customer. Thesales data processing apparatus according to the first embodiment isthus highly reliable and practical.

The customer camera 25 is mounted in the customer display unit 24 to beviewed by a customer who is waiting for registration, and is oriented soas to be able to squarely image the face of a customer who is waitingfor registration. Therefore, customer identification image data Y2 canbe generated on the basis of an image taken by squarely imaging the faceof a customer with such timing that the customer checks a price.

The above-mentioned prescribed manipulation is a manipulation of atleast one of the subtotal key K1 which is manipulated to display, as asubtotal, the sum of values of sales data registered so far in onetransaction and the accounting keys K3 which are manipulated to closeregistration of one transaction. Therefore, customer identificationimage data Y2 can be generated on the basis of an image taken bysquarely imaging the face of a customer with such timing that thecustomer visually checks a display content (price) of the customerdisplay unit 24. This is preferable for face recognition.

An event time which is data stored in the electronic journal file Y6 andindicates timing of a manipulation is read out, an image taken with thattiming is extracted from a moving image in the customer moving imagefile Y1, and customer identification image data Y2 is generated on thebasis of the extracted image. Therefore, customer identification imagedata Y2 corresponding to a prescribed manipulation made can be generatedanytime freely from a moving image file.

An event time which is data stored in the electronic journal file Y6 andindicates timing of a manipulation is read out, an image that was takenbefore or after that timing is extracted from a moving image in thecustomer moving image file Y1, and customer identification image data Y2is generated on the basis of the extracted image. Therefore, even if animage corresponding to a manipulation made is not suitable for facerecognition, customer identification image data Y2 can be generated onthe basis of an image that precedes or succeeds the former image.

Since a customer is identified by searching the face recognition datafile Y3 using generated customer identification image data Y2, acustomer can be identified easily by face recognition.

Although in the first embodiment, the prescribed manipulations aremanipulations of the subtotal key K2 and the accounting keys K3, theymay also include the registration keys K1 such as the item key and thecategory key, a correction key for commanding correction of input data,a return key for canceling input data, or the like.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the invention will be hereinafter described withreference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

In the above-described first embodiment, the customer identification andregistration process is executed for all transactions when amanipulation commanding customer identification and registration is madein the final accounting mode. In contrast, in the second embodiment, acustomer identification and registration process of recognizing andidentifying a customer is executed during registration of a transactionto the customer in the registration mode. In the second embodiment,constituent elements having basically the same ones or correspondingones in the first embodiment will be given the same reference symbols asthe latter and will not be described in detail. Only featurescharacteristic of the second embodiment will mainly be described below.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for detailed description of a registrationprocess (which corresponds to step A2 shown in FIG. 8). As in theprocess shown in FIG. 9, the ECR main body unit 1 performs various kindsof processing by cooperating with the camera unit 2, when necessary. Inthe following, steps shown in FIG. 11 having basically the same steps inFIG. 9 will be described only briefly.

The CPU 11 of the ECR main body unit 1 determines whether or not aregistration manipulation which commands registration of sales data hasbeen performed (step B21 shown in FIG. 11), whether or not the subtotalkey K2 has been manipulated (step B29), whether or not one of theaccounting keys K3 has been manipulated (step B32), and whether or notone of the other keys has been manipulated (step B37).

If a registration manipulation which commands registration of sales datahas been performed (B21: yes), as in steps B2-B8 shown in FIG. 9, stepsB24-B28 are executed on condition that the customer camera 25 is not inoperation (B22: no) and a first manipulation of one transaction has beenperformed (B23: yes). At step B24, the CPU 11 causes the camera unit 2to perform processing for setting a moving image file name. At step B25,the CPU 11 causes the camera unit 2 to activate the customer camera 25and start a recording operation of successively recording images takenby the customer camera 25. An item registration process is executed atstep B26, and the subtotal of the one transaction is updated at stepB27. At step B28, event data corresponding to the manipulation concernedis stored as journal data (temporary storage). Then, the process returnsto step B21.

If the subtotal key K2 is manipulated (B29: yes), a subtotal amount isdisplayed at step B30 as at step B10 shown in FIG. 9. In the secondembodiment, the process moves to step B28 after execution of a customeridentification and registration process (step B31; described later).Steps B32-38 are the same as steps B11-B17 shown in FIG. 9. That is, ifone of the other keys is manipulated (B37: yes), processingcorresponding to the manipulation is performed at step B38. At step B28,event data relating to the manipulation is stored as journal data(temporary storage). If one of the accounting keys K3 is manipulated(B32: yes), an accounting process is executed at step B33. At step B34,event data relating to the manipulation is stored as journal data(temporary storage). At step B35, the event data of the one transactionconcerned that have been stored temporarily are transferred to thecamera unit 2 as journal data. At step B36, the operation of thecustomer camera 25 is stopped. Then, the process of FIG. 11 is finishedand an exit is made from it.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for detailed description of the customeridentification and registration process (step B31 shown in FIG. 11). Inthe following, steps shown in FIG. 12 having basically the same steps inFIG. 10 will be described only briefly.

First, at step C21, the CPU 21 of the camera unit 2 extracts a one-frameimage of a moving image being taken. At step C22, the CPU 21 generatescustomer identification image data Y2 by extracting face feature pointdata by analyzing the extracted image (still image). At step C23 the CPU21 searches the face recognition data file Y3 using the extractedcustomer identification image data Y2. If there exists registered facefeature point data that coincides in features with the extracted facefeature point data, that is, a match with a registered person is found(C24: yes), at step C25 the CPU 21 determines that the customer has beenidentified and acquires the corresponding face recognition output IDfrom the face recognition data file Y3. At step C30, the CPU 21 recordsthe acquired face recognition output ID in the electronic journal fileY6. Then, the process of FIG. 12 is finished and a return is made fromit.

On the other hand, if a match is not found with any registered person(C24: no), at step C26 the CPU 21 newly generates a face recognitionoutput ID and a registration date. At step C27, the CPU 21 generates anew record which contains the face recognition output ID and theregistration date. At step C28, the CPU 21 newly (additionally)registers the generated new record in the customer database Y4. At stepC29, the CPU 21 additionally registers the face feature point data(customer identification image data Y2) in the face recognition datafile Y3 together with the face recognition output ID. At step C30, theCPU 21 records the face recognition output ID in the electronic journalfile Y6. Then, the process of FIG. 12 is finished and a return is madefrom it.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the customeridentification and registration process of recognizing and identifying acustomer is executed during registration of a transaction to thecustomer in the registration mode. Therefore, the customer of atransaction can be identified during registration of the transaction,which makes it possible to do a customer service on the very occasion ofthe transaction. For example, it becomes possible to do a service ofprinting a coupon on a receipt can be done after completion of atransaction depending on a customer type (e.g., whether or not thecustomer is a good one, which is determined on the basis of his or herpast purchase results and store visit results). Furthermore, executingthe customer identification and registration process during registrationof a transaction is advantageous in terms of time spent and workefficiency over a single batch process which is executed later for manytransactions.

In the second embodiment, customer identification image data Y2 isgenerated by extracting a one-frame image of a moving image being takenand extracting face feature point data by analyzing the extracted image(still image) when the subtotal key K2 is manipulated after the customercamera 25 was activated and a recording operation was started inresponse to a first registration manipulation of one transaction.Alternatively, customer identification image data Y2 may be generated onthe basis of an image taken by activating the customer camera 25 inresponse to a manipulation of the subtotal key K2. In this case,customer identification image data Y2 may be generated by taking pluralimages consecutively in a short time (quick imaging) and selecting animage (e.g., frontal image) that is suitable for recognition from thoseimages. This makes it unnecessary to take a moving image over a longtime.

In the second embodiment, customer identification image data Y2 isgenerated when the subtotal key K2 is manipulated. Alternatively,customer identification image data Y2 may be generated when one of theaccounting keys K3 (e.g., cash/deposit key) is manipulated. As a furtheralternative, customer identification image data Y2 may be generated wheneach of the subtotal key K2 and an accounting key K3 is manipulated. Inthis case, an image having a higher detection score may be employed asan image for customer identification.

In the second embodiment, customer identification image data Y2 of onetransaction is generated during registration of the one transaction.Alternatively, customer identification image data Y2 may be generatedduring a free time (the ECR is not in operation) when no customer iswaiting for registration.

In each embodiment, the ECR executes the customer identification andregistration process in which customer identification image data Y2 isgenerated. Alternatively, the customer identification and registrationprocess is executed in a PC (external apparatus) by storing the customermoving image file Y1, the face recognition data file Y3, the customerdatabase Y4, and the electronic journal file Y6 in the SD card 28 inadvance and inserting the SD card 28 into the PC. That is, a sales dataprocessing apparatus may be implemented as a sales data processingsystem which includes an ECR and a PC.

In each embodiment, the customer camera 25 takes a moving image from thestart to the end of one transaction. Alternatively, the customer camera25 may continue taking of a moving image from switching of the modeswitch MS to the registration mode to cancellation of the registrationmode.

Although in each embodiment the ECR (sales data processing apparatus) isseparated into the ECR main body unit 1 and the camera unit 2, the ECRmain body unit 1 and the camera unit 2 may be integrated together toform an ECR. Although each embodiment is directed to the ECR as anexample sales data processing apparatus, the invention may be applied toa POS terminal that is connected to a private dedicated line.Furthermore, the invention may be applied to a sales data processingsystem that is connected to a PC provided in headquarters via theInternet.

Each of the devices and units used in each embodiment is not limited toa one that is housed in a single cabinet and may be separated intoplural units or subunits that have different functions and are housed indifferent cabinets. The steps of each flowchart are not limited to suchas to be executed in time-series order and plural ones of them may beexecuted parallel or individually (or independently of each other).

Although the two embodiments of the invention have been described above,the invention is not limited to them but encompasses the concepts asdefined by the claims and equivalents thereof.

1. A sales data processing apparatus which registers and processes salesdata on a transaction-by-transaction basis, the apparatus comprising: animaging module configured to image a customer who is waiting forregistration; a manipulation determination module configured todetermine whether or not a prescribed one of a series of manipulationsfor registration of sales data of one transaction was performed; and ageneration module configured to generate customer identification imagedata based on an image taken by the imaging module if the manipulationdetermination module determines that the prescribed manipulation wasperformed.
 2. The sales data processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the imaging module is provided in a customer display unit to beviewed by the customer who is waiting for registration and is orientedso as to be able to squarely image the face of the customer who iswaiting for registration.
 3. The sales data processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the prescribed manipulation is amanipulation of at least one of a subtotal key to be manipulated todisplay, as a subtotal, a total value of sales data registered so far inthe one transaction and an accounting key to be manipulated to closeregistration of sales data of the one transaction.
 4. The sales dataprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a movingimage storage module configured to store a moving image taken by theimaging module by imaging the customer who is waiting for registration;and a manipulation situation storage module configured to store dataindicating manipulation timing of at least the prescribed manipulationof a series of manipulations for registration of sales data of the onetransaction, wherein the generation module extracts an image that wastaken with the manipulation timing indicated by the data stored in themanipulation situation storage module from the moving image stored inthe moving image storage module, and generates the customeridentification image data based on the extracted image.
 5. The salesdata processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the manipulationsituation storage module stores, as sales record data, data relating tomanipulations performed in each transaction.
 6. The sales dataprocessing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the generation moduleextracts an image that was taken before or after the manipulation timingindicated by the data stored in the manipulation situation storagemodule from the moving image stored in the moving image storage module,and generates the customer identification image data based on theextracted image.
 7. The sales data processing apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein if the extracted image that was taken with themanipulation timing indicated by the data stored in the manipulationsituation storage module from the moving image stored in the movingimage storage module is lower than a reference value in closeness to acomplete frontal image, the generation module extracts an image that wastaken before or after the manipulation timing indicated by the datastored in the manipulation situation storage module from the movingimage stored in the moving image storage module and generates thecustomer identification image data based on the extracted image.
 8. Thesales data processing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a face recognition data storage module configured to storeand manage face recognition image data of respective customers; and acustomer identifying module configured to identify a customer bysearching the face recognition data storage module based on the customeridentification image data generated by the generation module.
 9. Thesales data processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein thegeneration module generates the customer identification image data byacquiring an image taken by the imaging module by imaging the customerwho is waiting for registration when the manipulation determinationmodule determines that the prescribed manipulation was performed duringregistration work in which a series of manipulations for registration ofsales data of the one transaction is performed; and wherein the customeridentifying module identifies the customer based on the customeridentification image data generated by the generation module during theregistration work.
 10. The sales data processing apparatus according toclaim 9, wherein the generation module generates the customeridentification image data by acquiring a still image taken by activatingthe imaging module when the manipulation determination module determinesthat the prescribed manipulation was performed.
 11. A computer-readablestorage medium that stores a program for causing a computer to executeprocedures comprising: registering and processing sales data on atransaction-by-transaction basis; determining whether or not aprescribed one of a series of manipulations for registration of salesdata of one transaction was performed; and generating customeridentification image data based on an image taken by an imaging moduleconfigured to image a customer who is waiting for registration if it isdetermined that the prescribed manipulation was performed.